Wintry Northern Michigan celebrations in Benzie invite you to snowy towns like Frankfort and Beulah for February festivities. Embracing winter and the quirky possibilities it offers is the theme behind midwinter festivals like Beulah’s Winterfest. At the February 8th event, join in to toss a frozen fish, bowl a frozen turkey, catch a fish through the ice, cheer on mushers at a sled-dog weight-pulling competition, and then thaw out at a chili cookoff or on a heart-pumping snowshoe hike.
For your snowshoe fun, race the 5K Snowshoe Stomp at nearby Crystal Mountain at 10 a.m. (preregistration required), or meander at your own pace on a woodsy trail.
If you can stay a week, sandwich your getaway with festive fun by sticking around for Frankfort’s Shiver by the River, Feb. 15–16, and checking out the winter parade, bowling on Main Street and free showings of “Be My Valentine Charlie Brown” at the vintage Garden Theater. Family-friendly Stormcloud Brewing Company is a must-stop for the Belgian inspired ales, family game nights; flatbread pizzas and inventive popcorns. Stay: Crystal Mountain offers hotel and condo options, and the Legacy Art Park of outdoor sculptures makes an unforgettable snowshoeing destination. More: crystalmountain.com; visitbenzie.com.